Utility meter container

ABSTRACT

A utility meter container for the accommodation of electric, gas, water and telephone meters and mains installation with provision to temporarily remove the container cover for the reading of the meters contained therein. The container is of simple lightweight and economical construction consisting of three shell formed plastic parts that in the unassembled mode nest into each other for storage and shipment. The top and the bottom half of the container body are permanently fastened together in place by means of blind rivets or bolts in the adjoining flanges of the two parts. A removable cover fits into the top of the unit, the cover being latched to the unit so that it may be temporarily removed when a specially shaped key is inserted into the cover. During such temporary removal, the cover remains fastened to the key.

United States Patent 1 Ledford UTILITY METER CONTAINER [75] Inventor:Jonathan Ledford, Washington,

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: June 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 373,673

[52] US. Cl 220/4 B; 220/5 A; 220/18; 292/83; 292/86; 220/323 [51] Int.Cl..... 365d 1/22; EOSC 19/06; B65d 45/28 [58] Field of Search 292/83,86 220 4 8,4 13,5 A,5 R,18,323

[451 July 8,1975

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard 1.Popell 5 7 ABSTRACT A utility meter container for the accommodation ofelectric, gas, water and telephone meters and mains installation withprovision to temporarily remove the container cover for the reading ofthe meters contained therein. The container is of simple lightweight andeconomical construction consisting of three shell formed plastic partsthat in the unassembled mode nest into each other for storage andshipment. The top and the bottom half of the container body arepennanently fastened together in place by means of blind rivets or boltsin the adjoining flanges of the two parts. A removable cover fits intothe top of the unit, the cover being latched to the unit so that it maybe temporarily removed when a specially shaped key is inserted into thecover. During such temporary removal, the cover remains fastened to thekey.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures P'A'THITFHJUL 8 1975 sum 1 or 2 1 UTILITYMETER CONTAINER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to acontainer for enclosing utility meters in a weatherproof installation,with provision to temporarily remove the cover of the unit for thereading of the meters. The advantage of this invention lies in the factthat the container is fabricated of inexpensive and lightweight shellplastic composition of three parts, the parts being shaped so as to nestinto each other in the unassembled condition for storage andtransportation. The shell plastic parts may be inexpensively fabricatedof polyvinylchloride material in a vacuum forming operation. Thematerial is impervious to moisture, plant growth, weather andtemperature cycles, and may be fabricated in colors which are harmoniouswith the surroundings of the meter. The container consists of an upperand lower shell section which are permanently joined together alongaligning flanges by means of blind rivets or bolts. One flange overlapsthe other so as to eliminate the need for a gasket along the flangedjoint. The top section of the unit has a cover which latches into placein the top section but is removable when a special shaped key isinserted into the shaped opening of the top cover and pressed againstthe latching mechanism. In the removed state, the cover remains fastenedto the special key, while the meters contained inside the unit are read.Sections of conduit pipe may be bonded to the sides of the unit forenclosure of utility wires and pipes that lead into the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of theinvention may be understood with reference to the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of the top of the container;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the container;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cover and key of the container;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the key;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the key;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cover latch plate; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the latch plate saddle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to thedrawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elementsthroughout the several views, FIG. I-2 illustrate the container 10 whichis formed of a top shell section 11 and a bottom shell section 12. Eachof said shell sections are in the form of a hollow cup, with walls 24that taper inwardly to the top or bottom of the section so that anynumber of units may be nested inside of each other during periods ofstorage of shipment. The plan view of container I0 is that of arectangular shape although other shapes may be preferably depending onthe size of the meters which are to be installed inside. A flange 17 isformed along the outer edges of each section II and 12, with the flange17 of one section having a curved lip so as to ride about the flange ofthe adjoining section when two flanges I7 of the two sections are joinedtogether by blind rivets 16 or by other types of fasteners. A serviceconduit coupler section 21 may extend from the side 24 of the bottomunit for joining with the conduit which supplies the incoming utilitylines, and a similar conduit coupling section 22 may be fitted to thetop section on one side 24 so as to join to the conduit enclosing theutility line that runs from the meter container I0 to the installationthat is serviced.

The top of the upper section I l is formed with a large rectangularlyshaped recess opening 31, with recess 3| surrounded by wall 51 of theupper section II. Horizontal lip 32 projects below the recess opening3I. A removable cover plate 30, which may be embossed with the insigniaI3 of the utility corporation or supplier, fits snugly over the recessopening 3|. A flat plastic or metal strip 38 serves to latch the cover30 in place on the top section II, with a reduced section 42 near eachend 41 of the flat strip 38 latches into projecting tabs 36 below thebottom surface of the meter cover 30, as shown in FIG. I-7.

The ends 41 or latch plate 38 extends under each side lip 32 of therecess 31 of meter top cover 30 so as to hold the meter cover 30fastened to the top section 12 in the normal locked mode.

An opening 14 is located in the top cover 30 of a circular or oval shapewith two extending centered wing openings 15, each in linearconfiguration and at diametrically opposed sides of the opening 14.

As shown in FIGS. l-2 a tubular shaped key 23 fits loosely into theopening I4. The wings 15 of hole 14 accommodate fixed pin 35 thatprojects through the lower section of the tubular key.

Key 23 is formed ofa bar 53 of circular or oval crosssection, with ahandle member 54 fastened adjacent one end of bar 23 and a protrudingfixed pin 35 fitted at a spaced relation to the working end 46 of key23. The surface of working end 46 of the key 23 is formed as a flatsurface inclined at an angle to the axis of bar 53. Protruding pin 35 islocated perpendicular to the axis of bar 53, with the axis of pin 35located so as not to pass through the axis of key bar 53.

Latch strip 38 is formed of a spring grade of metal or plastic, ofgeneral rectangular shape, with a section of reduced cross-section 42adjacent to each end 41 of the strip. An elliptical hole 44 may belocated in the middle of the strip, with the width of hole 44 being lessthan the diameter of key bar 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, insertion of key 23 into recess 14 of cover 30, whenthe cover is attached to the box I0, simultaneously latches the key 23to cover 30, and unlatches cover 30 from box 10, in the followingmanner:

Insertion of key 23 against latch plate 38 causes the inclined bottomsurface 46 of the key 23 to bear against mid-sections 34A of themid-section 34 of latch plate 38. Latch plate 38 is both twisted aboutits axis on its mounting on saddles 36 and bent into an arcuate shape,drawing in end sections 4] of latch plate 38 from engagement with lip 32of box top 11. Simultaneously, key 23 is moved transversely in hole I4so that the pegs 35 of key 23 engage the undersurface of cover 30, beingmoved out of the aligned position with wings IS of hole I4 in the cover30. The cover 30, with engaged key 23, may now be lifted free of the box10, by lifting of key 23. Saddle 36 opening 38 prevents the full widthend sections 41 of the latch plate 38 from becoming detached from thecover assembly. Each saddle member 36 is fitted on ledge 49 attached tothe undersurface of cover plate 30.

The cover with engaged key 23 may now be removed for the purpose ofreading the meters installed inside the container. Replacement of thecover 30 is achieved by reversing the procedure and sliding the key 23so that protruding pin 35 will clear the wings of the opening 14 in thecover 30, resulting in latching the cover plate 30 to the cover section11 by means of latch plate 38, and separating key 23 from the cover 30.

It is to be noted that key 23 is not rotated in use, but merely pushedinto hole 14 for unlatching the cover plate 30. Should a lock pickdevice be inserted, instead. into hole 14, such device would not be ableto open the cover latch assembly, since the unlatching is accomplishedby the application of pressure on both flanks 34A of latch plate 38,together with pressure causing latch plate 38 to twist and shorten inextended length.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of theinvention described herein, such modifications being within the spiritand scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all mattercontained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting inscope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by letters patent of the United States is:

l. A container for the installation of a utility meter, with provisionsto remove the cover of said unit by a key for the reading of the meterinstalled therein,

said container being formed ofa molded plastic com position with ahollow top section and a hollow bot tom section, both of which areformed with sloping tapered walls so as to be able to nest into eachother and into similar units in the stored unassembled condition, withthe edges of the top and the bottom sections formed with flangesadaptable for joining together by means of blind rivets or bolts,

and with a central opening in the top section of a shape to hold a coverplate fabricated of similar material, with said cover plate being heldfast to the said top section so as to enclose the opening in said topsection by means of a flat latch plate, slidably fastened to theunderside of the latch plate,

the ends of said latch plate normally engaging projections fitted to theunderside of the said top section and of a spring construction so thatpressure applied to the latch plate. perpendicular to the plane of thelatch plate acts to bend the latch plate into an arcuate shape. thusforeshortening its extended length and withdrawing the latch plate endsfrom engagement with the projection of the top section,

said cover plate having an opening to admit a key.

said opening located in alignment with the midsection of the latchplate.

said key formed of a shank faced on one end with a plane surfaceoriented at an inclined angle to the axis of the shank and fitted withprojections on the shank adjacent to the said inclined plane surface,with the opening of the cover plate shaped to admit the shank of the keyand the projections, such that manual pressure on the key in the axialdirection of the shank, after the inclined plane surface of the keycontacts the latch plate, serves to both disengage the latch plate fromengagement with the top section and to also slide the key laterally inrelation to the opening and to the latch plate so as to cause theprojections on the shank of the key to slide past the opening in the topcover and thus engage the underside of the cover when the manualpressure on the key is relaxed, thus freeing the cover from the topsection and latching the key to the latch section, without rotation ofthe key.

1. A container for the installation of a utility meter, with provisionsto remove the cover of said unit by a key for the reading of the meterinstalled therein, said container being formed of a molded plasticcomposition with a hollow top section and a hollow bottom section, bothof which are formed with sloping tapered walls so as to be able to nestinto each other and into similar units in the stored unassembledcondition, with the edges of the top and thee bottom sections formedwith flanges adaptable for joining together by means of blind rivets orbolts, and with a central opening in the top section of a shape to holda cover plate fabricated of similar material, with said cover platebeing held fast to the said top section so as to enclose the opening insaid top section by means of a flat latch plate, slidably fastened tothe underside of the latch plate, the ends of said latch plate normallyengaging projections fitted to the underside of the said top section andof a spring construction so that pressure applied to the latch plate,perpendicular to the plane of the latch plate acts to bend the latchplate into an arcuate shape, thus foreshortening its extended length andwithdrawing the latch plate ends from engagement with the projection ofthe top section, said cover plate having an opening to admit a key, saidopening located in alignment with the mid-section of the latch plate,said key formed of a shank faced on one end with a plane surfaceoriented at an inclined angle to the axis of the shank and fitted withprojections on the shank adjacent to the said inclined plane surface,with the opening of the cover plate shaped to admit the shank of the keyand the projections, such that manual pressure on the key in the axialdirection of the shank, after the inclined plane surface of the keycontacts the latch plate, serves to both disengage the latch plate fromengagement with the top section and to also slide the key laterally inrelation to the opening and to the latch plate so as to cause theprojections on the shank of the key to slide past the opening in the topcover and thus engage the underside of the cover when the manualpressure on the key is relaxed, thus freeing the cover from the topsection and latching the key to the latch section, without rotation ofthe key.